Volunteering 2025

[Pinhead]

25 minutes ago, StoneCircle said:

Here is how Oxfam decided on who got priority after the last fallow year of 2018. I thought some of you might find it interesting. 😊

The c) bit nearly just out of view was what I relied upon 

 

[StoneCircle]

2 hours ago, Pinhead said:

The c) bit nearly just out of view was what I relied upon 

 

Very much like the 7 festivals in 7 years now, but Glastonbury quite rightly counted towards the 7 festivals back then. As did taking on the extra responsibility of being a supervisor.

 

I personally think they have made an ill judged decision in how returning stewards qualify for priority in future. Experience counts for a lot. 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 4, 2025 by StoneCircle

[Pinhead]

I think they have disenfranchised a great number of past experienced stewards by doing this and as they say today, the 'optics looks poor'....

[barcelonista1899]

Interesting new rules. The new criteria certainly favors those who are not bound by time restraints. 

 

I have volunteered on and off with Oxfam for nearly 15yrs (my wife 10). 

My job means my leave is fixed to set dates, sometimes they allign with a festival (not just glastonbury)  sometimes they don't. Either way it is almost impossible to be able to do 2 festivals in a year, yet alone 3, purely on the dates. But When we do volunteer we are always supervisors or shift leading team and like to think we work hard and bring experience to the roles, which I would like to think is valued somewhere.

 

Not been priority since they dumped the supervisor rule, fine with that but the new criteria pushes it further out of reach as was aimimg for the 7 in 7. 

 

Have tickets for Glastonbury this year (first time that i'll actually be able to use a ticket) but was debating stewarding again as 1) We like to work for oxfam and contribute and 2) to add another festival to our record. Can't really see the benefit now that it is worth 0 points. 

 

My thought is that perhaps they are aware that their projected stewarding contract for 2027 at Glastonbury might be significantly lower than it is currently, so they are trying to cull priority numbers in anticipation? 

Edited February 4, 2025 by barcelonista1899

[thewomble]

I was really hoping to be able to do two weekend festivals in 2026 to get priority in 2027. If it does end up being the 9 points I'll have to try and squeeze a third in but it's so difficult with annual leave.

 

No way of doing another weekend fest in this year as already got Glasto tickets and using a lot of annual leave for other things (at the age where everyone I know is getting married..) I would absolutely be up for doing a few of the day events but living up North would end up having to pay for trains/hotels etc. Seems a shame, I loved volunteering in 2024!

[efcfanwirral]

7 hours ago, barcelonista1899 said:

My thought is that perhaps they are aware that their projected stewarding contract for 2027 at Glastonbury might be significantly lower than it is currently, so they are trying to cull priority numbers in anticipation? 

That was my first thought too. Wonder if the feedback from the new gate manager system was that they need some better trained people around them

[buddiepaul]

Oxfam spot all sorted now 😃

[Isaaclk]

13 minutes ago, efcfanwirral said:

That was my first thought too. Wonder if the feedback from the new gate manager system was that they need some better trained people around them

/ just not as many people. So many oxfam positions at Glasto seem to be overfilled. Especially on like the days in the midde of the festival.

[Pinhead]

Bloody captcha delayed me logging on for 3 mins, then the payment thing failed twice until I tried a different prowser then it just worked. Glasto secured, however Beautiful Days which would have been my now required points acumulator pick was already gone! I guess all Bearded Theory regulars have just piled into that one. No line up even announced for BD yet. Have picked Shambala as second one now (last did that back in 2018).

 

Is Shambala still in the same place it was back in 2018 does anyone know?

[stuie]

Well, that was nice and easy and only paid half the deposit, which was a nice surprise I'd forgotten about that! 

 

Glastonbury and Wilderness places with Oxfam secured. 

 

Alongside tickets to Noisily and Mucky Weekender. 

Summer 2025 - LETS GO!!! 🙂 

[Watergirl]

7 minutes ago, stuie said:

Well, that was nice and easy and only paid half the deposit, which was a nice surprise I'd forgotten about that! 

Same. I was expecting to pay the full whack. Signed up for Glastonbury and Download.

[efcfanwirral]

In for Glastonbury! The Reading additional one last year paid off.

[March Hare]

if anyone is curious about which festivals are left 45 mins after priority opened

[March Hare]

My guess is that there isn't a change to stewarding numbers planned in 2027.  

 

Glastonbury is always oversubscribed and Oxfam need to nudge people to do other festivals.  Especially as the festival landscape has changed and they have added more day festivals.

There will always be plenty of experienced stewards who will be at Glastonbury.  As an experienced steward/supervisor - I don't mind the change.  

[Skip997]

48 minutes ago, Pinhead said:

 

 

Is Shambala still in the same place it was back in 2018 does anyone know?

It’s changed slightly in layout, no Chai Wallahs or Kamikaze, been replaced by a superb new venue, Solasta, which has really opened out the area where Chai Wallahs was.

 

If anything it’s actually better, the atmosphere and friendliness is as good as ever. I’ve been to loads and last year may have been the best ever. 

[efcfanwirral]

28 minutes ago, March Hare said:

My guess is that there isn't a change to stewarding numbers planned in 2027.  

 

Glastonbury is always oversubscribed and Oxfam need to nudge people to do other festivals.  Especially as the festival landscape has changed and they have added more day festivals.

There will always be plenty of experienced stewards who will be at Glastonbury.  As an experienced steward/supervisor - I don't mind the change.  

I really hope they keep the day festivals as counting towards points, but I've got a funny feeling that one will change because a lot choose to do that instead of camping festivals

[Crazyfool01]

1 hour ago, stuie said:

Well, that was nice and easy and only paid half the deposit, which was a nice surprise I'd forgotten about that! 

 

Glastonbury and Wilderness places with Oxfam secured. 

 

Alongside tickets to Noisily and Mucky Weekender. 

Summer 2025 - LETS GO!!! 🙂 

Hope you’ve sorted the campervan !!! 

[sedra]

Glastonbury and Beautiful Days booked and Latitude 

will do at least 2 next year so hopefully will be sorted for 2027. Retiring at end of March so have plenty of time to fill! 

[oakdown]

Booked in for Glastonbury and Boomtown! Although I'll probably only end up doing one, four festivals last year took me out. Payment failed a couple of times but otherwise a super smooth process this year

[stuie]

36 minutes ago, Crazyfool01 said:

Hope you’ve sorted the campervan !!! 

 

Not yet! I got recovery to drop it outside my parents house, which will be a nice surprise for them when they get back from holiday 🤣 

 

The clutch has gone - I'm no mechanic but when you've smelt clutch burn before, it's a very distinctive smell! 

[Crazyfool01]

1 minute ago, stuie said:

 

Not yet! I got recovery to drop it outside my parents house, which will be a nice surprise for them when they get back from holiday 🤣 

 

The clutch has gone - I'm no mechanic but when you've smelt clutch burn before, it's a very distinctive smell! 

Yeah I saw the photos of it on the back of a truck … never good but at least it wasn’t on way to a festival I presume 

[Greenelk]

Glastonbury and Boomtown sorted, and also doing Wide Awake, which nudges me towards my 21 in 7 years.  No priority next year, but all being well, a festival and two day ones in 2026 should see me sorted for priority again in time Glastonbury's return in 2027

[stuie]

22 minutes ago, Crazyfool01 said:

Yeah I saw the photos of it on the back of a truck … never good but at least it wasn’t on way to a festival I presume 

 

Exactly that! I'm happy it happened now and not on the A303 in June... looking on the bright side! 🙂 

[Leyrulion]

1 hour ago, March Hare said:

My guess is that there isn't a change to stewarding numbers planned in 2027.  

 

Glastonbury is always oversubscribed and Oxfam need to nudge people to do other festivals.  Especially as the festival landscape has changed and they have added more day festivals.

There will always be plenty of experienced stewards who will be at Glastonbury.  As an experienced steward/supervisor - I don't mind the change.  

Glastonbury is probably the one festival where, outside the handful of gate organisers and gate supervisors, they could probably get away with less experienced people. 

 

You don't need to be radioing medicals etc etc. 

[incident]

2 hours ago, Pinhead said:

however Beautiful Days which would have been my now required points acumulator pick was already gone! I guess all Bearded Theory regulars have just piled into that one.

 

I reckon the absence of WOMAD probably impacted that one as well, I reckon those wanting it would have dispersed to either BDs or Shambala.